Making CalAIM work for older adults experiencing homelessness
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Series Title(s):
- Issue brief (California HealthCare Foundation)
- Author(s):
- Graham, Carrie, author Triano, Sarah, author Moffett, Torshira, author
- Contributor(s):
- California HealthCare Foundation, issuing body.
- Publication:
- [Oakland, CA] : California Health Care Foundation, July 2023
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Aged Delivery of Health Care Health Services for the Aged Ill-Housed Persons Medicaid Socioeconomic Disparities in Health State Health Plans California
- Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- Among the growing population experiencing homelessness in California and nationally, older adults - defined here as age 50 or older - are the fastest-growing segment. The circumstances that trigger homelessness in older adults are often different than those for younger people, and older adults experiencing homelessness are often at risk for worse health outcomes, including much higher mortality than their younger counterparts. Unfortunately, experts believe this problem has not peaked, and this older population is expected to continue to grow unless action is taken. California’s current Medi-Cal reform effort - known as CalAIM (California Advancing and Innovating MediCal) - offers new opportunities to help the growing number of people experiencing homelessness, including older adults. Specific CalAIM initiatives with the potential to address homelessness include Enhanced Care Management (ECM), Community Supports, the Justice-Involved Initiative, and the institutional long-term care carve-in. These initiatives can empower Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCPs), community-based organizations (CBOs), and longterm care facilities to coordinate activities that address homelessness among Medi-Cal enrollees over age 50, especially when these programs are closely aligned with the existing housing and homelessness systems of care. Drawing from literature reviews, expert interviews, and examples from other states, this brief provides an overview of California’s population of older adults experiencing homelessness, describes CalAIM initiatives that can help address homelessness among older adults with disabilities and/or complex care needs, and highlights the challenges and opportunities for improving services and outcomes for this population.
- Copyright:
- Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY-NC-ND license. (More information)
- Extent:
- 1 online resource (1 PDF file (11 pages)).
- NLM Unique ID:
- 9918734178806676 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918734178806676